Hypodermic syringe holder and applicator

ABSTRACT

A holder-applicator device for a needle-carrying hypodermic syringe by which there is greatly facilitated the introduction of the hypodermic needle into animal tissue or flesh. The device has a motor for rotatably mounting the syringe body in such a way that the needle thereof projects at a forward location and can be conveniently applied to the desired area. The motor includes a battery supply for the same, by which a turning, driving force is supplied to the syringe and needle to effect a rapid turning of the same about their common axis. Such turning of the needle enables it to penetrate into animal tissue or flesh much more effectively than heretofore and with a minimum of axial force being required, thereby greatly reducing discomfort or pain. Upon penetration of the needle being effected, the motor is made inoperative. Thereafter the injection is effected by the usual operation of depressing the plunger of the syringe. Further, the hypodermic needle differs from existing needles in that it has a sharp, conical solid point, and in that the discharge openings of the needle are in the side walls thereof disposed immediately behind the solid conical point.

HYPODERMIC SYRINGE HOLDER AND APPLICATOR [76] Inventor: Arthur M.Maroth, Grumman Hill Rd., Wilton, Conn. 06897 221 Filed: Mar. 23, 1972[21] Appl, No.: 237,440

[52] U.S. C1 128/218 R, 128/305, 128/DIG. 1 [51] Int. Cl. A61m 5/18,A61b 17/32 [58] Field of Search .."128/2 B, 218 R, 218 A, l28/DIG. l,305, 310, 347, 221; 32/26-31; BIO/DIG. 8, 59,50; 30/133, 500, 240

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 824,686 6/1906 Daniel 99/5322,525,329 10/1950 Wyzenbeek.... 128/347 3,127,894 4/1964 Smith..'l28/347 3,173,417 3/1965 Horner..... 128/305 3,120,845 2/1964 Horner128/305 3,107,101 10/1963 -Garnier et-al 32/26 X 3,384,085 5/1968 Hall128/305 3,306,502 2/1967 Harris, Jr. 128/218 R X 3,225,760 12/1965 DiCosola 128/218 R X 2,317,648 4/1943 Siqueland 32/26 X 3,618,611 11/1971Urban 128/305 2,773,501 12/1956 Young 128/221 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,078,958 3/1960 Germany 128/310 745,957 5 /l933 1 France128/218 A 1111 3,811,442 1451 May21, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard A.Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. C. McGowan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-H.Gibner Lehmann; K. Gibner Lehmann 5 7] ABSTRACT A holder-applicatordevice for a needle-carrying hypodermic syringe by which there isgreatly facilitated the introduction of the hypodermic needle intoanimal tissue or flesh. The device has a motor for rotatably mountingthe syringe body in such a way that the needle thereof projects at aforward location and can be conveniently applied to the desired area.The motor includes a battery supply for the same, by which a turning,driving force is supplied to the syringe and needle to effect a rapidturning of the same about their common axis. Such turning of the needleenables it to penetrate into animal tissue or flesh much moreeffectively than heretofore and with a minimum of axial force beingrequired, thereby greatly reducing discomfort or pain. Upon penetrationof the needle being effected, the motor is made inoperative. Thereafterthe injection is effected by the usual operation of depressing theplunger of the syringe. Further, the hypodermic needle differs fromexisting needles in that it has a'sharp, conical solid point, and inthat the discharge openings of the needle are in the side walls thereofdisposed immediately behind the solid conical point.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I'Il11 Ii WI/III HYPODERMIC SYRINGE HOLDERAND APPLICATOR BACKGROUND This invention relates to the field ofhypodermic injections utilizing syringes and hypodermic needles, andmore particularly to holder-applicator devices for such syringes, whichare intended to facilitate the insertionf the needle into animal or liketissue. I-Ieretofore, various structures have been proposed and producedfor facilitating the insertion of a hypodermic needle in animal tissue,and for facilitating the administration of fluid from a syringe carryingsuch needle. Some of these prior devices incorporated large andcumbersome holders which had for their object the axial advancing of thehypodermic needle under appreciable power, so as to forcibly inject itinto the tissue or flesh. The theory behind such devices was that if theneedle could be positively, forcibly advanced (in some cases veryquickly) into the flesh it would either reduce the attendant pain orelse speed up and make easier the introduction of the needle from thestandpoint of the operator. While it was thought that, by the use ofthese prior power-operated holders or carriers, the giving of hypodermicinjections was aided, there still existed a number of drawbacks. Theholders or carriers were large and cumbersome, and in spite of a highspeed of insertion as effected in some instances there still wasappreciable attendant pain as well as difficulty in effecting anaccurate placement of the needle in the exact desired location.Moreover, the prior devices were relatively expensive, and in manyinstances would not conveniently fit into a small carrying case such asis commonly utilized by doctors.

SUMMARY The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior power-operatedhypodermic syringe holders are obviated by the present invention, whichhas for its main object the provision of an improved means forfacilitating the introduction of a hypodermic needle into animal tissuein such a way that there is the least amount of discomfort to thepatient and also the least amount of damage to the tissue.

A related object of the invention is to provide an improved hypodermicsyringe holder-applicator as above characterized, wherein an especiallyhigh degree of accuracy is possible in placing the needle in the exactdesired location, irrespective of the make-up of the tissue or flesh.

These objects are accomplished by the provision of a novel hand-helddevice characterized by means for rotatably mounting needle-carryingsyringes with the needles thereof disposed in a projecting position,said device being further provided with powered means for applying aturning driving force to the mounted syringe and needle, thereby toeffect a rapid rotation of the same about the common axis thereof. Bysuch unique arrangement, penetration of the needle into animal tissue orflesh can be accomplished with surprising effectiveness, involving notonly a minimum amount of axial force but also the least possiblediscomfort and pain on the part of the patient or recipient. Theimproved holder-actuator device has a pair of widely spaced apartbearing portions separated by large sight openings which readily permitfull visual inspection of the syringe barrel. Adjacent one of thebearing portions is a driving member in the form of a spur gear whichhas a relatively large bore into which the syringe can be inserted.Carried in the gear bore is a resilient O-ring adapted to slidablyreceive and frictionally grip-and drive the syringe body. The spur gearin turn is driven, through a gear train, from a small electric motorwhich is battery powered, said motor and battery being carried in apistol-grip type casing within the handle portion thereof. The resilientO-ring not only enables the syringe body to be fully inserted therein soas to be supported by the spaced-apart bearing portions of the casing,but it also bears against the syringe body in such a manner as to applya turning force thereto when the motor is energized. In consequence, thesyringe with its needle is turned at a rapid pace, and ithas been foundthat the turning needle much more readily penetrates human or animaltissue or flesh, as' compared to nontuming needles, all with a minimumof axial force and a minimum amount of pain. The needle tip ispreferably solid, having a sharp conical point with the dischargeopenings of the needle located in the side walls thereof directly behindthe point.

Components of small size make it possible for the entireholder-applicator to occupy but little space, and

the unique bearing and. drive arrangement makes the applying of theneedle to the holder device and the re moval of the needle therefromespecially easy and quick.

Still other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an-axial sectional view of the improved hypodermic syringeholder-applicator as provided by the invention, with a syringe, needleand needle protector or cover shown carried in their operativepositions.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofa hypodermic needle of the preferredtype as utilized with the syringe of FIG. I. The needle guard has beenremoved.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the tip portion of thehypodermic needle, shown partly in axial section to reveal thestructural details thereof. In this figure the tip of the needle is seento have initially pene trated a section of tissue or flesh. This figurereveals the absence of dimpling, or resistance to the needle due to itsrapid rotation.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the syringe holder-applicator,taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates the application to animal tissue of aconventional-type nonrotating hypodermic needle with obliquely cut tip,showing the initial resistance which is offered by the tissue and thedimpling or indenting thereof.

Considering first FIG. I, the improved hypodermic syringe and needleholder-applicator illustrated therein comprises a casing generallydesignated by the numeral 10, said casing being also hereinafterreferred to as a carrier device.

In accordance with the present invention the casing 10 has a main bodyportion 12 in which there is mounted an electric motor 14 having a worml6'on its drive shaft. The worm 16 engages a worm wheel 18 carried by atransmission shaft 20 which latter is mounted in bearings 22 and 24disposed respectively in rear and front walls 26 and 28 of the casing10. A smallerdiameter rear portion 30 of the casing houses a singledry-cell battery 32, and it will be understood that the casing portioncan be much smaller in girth than the main body portion 12 by virtue ofthe battery 32 having a diameter somewhat on the order of one-half thediameter of the electric motor 14.

The front wall 28 of the casing has an electric switch including apush-button 34-which is operable against a leaf spring contact 36. Thespring 36 is connected by a lead wire 38 to the center terminal of thebattery 32. One terminal of the motor 14 is connected by a lead wire 40to the jacket of the battery 32. The other terminal of the motor 14 isjoined by a wire 42 to a cooperable switch spring 44 which is engageableby the movable spring 36 of the electric switch. By such arrange-' ment,depressing of the button 34 will energize the ameter such that it caneasily slidably receive and yet frictionally grip the barrel of asyringe 54. Such frictional grip and drive results from lateral forceexcited by the gear and O-ring against the syringe barrel as the latteris carried in bearing portions now to be described.

The casing 10 is seen to include a slender, integral syringe-supportingportion 56 provided with two widelyspaced apart bearing sleeves 58, 60which are connected to each other by a plurality of ribs 62, 64 and 66.

In accordance with the invention the syringe, comprising the barrel 54and a plunger 68 together with a needle assemblage 70, is slidable intothe bearing portion 56 to be rotatably carried by the sheeve bearings58, 60. The needle assemblage 70 comprises a rigid sleeve 72 which canbe molded of plastic, and a slender tubular metal needle 74, the latterbeing normally enclosed in a tubular guard or cover piece 76. The needleassemblage 70 further includes a collar 78 which is preferablyconstituted of plastic substance having an especially slippery surface,such as Teflon, Nylon (registered trademarks) or the like. The collar 78is adapted to rotatably fit in the bearing sleeve 58 of the bearingportion 56 of the casing, as seen in FIG. 1. When the syringe isinserted in the bearing portion as in this figure, the barrel 54 of thesyringe will be turnably carried in the bearing sleeve 60. Also, theO-ring 52 can now frictionally grip the syringe barrel 54 so as toconstitute a driving connection thereto, when lateral force is exertedby the ring against the barrel.

During the above assemblage it will be understood that the guard 76 canbe inserted through the foremost sleeve bearing 58 without interference.After comple tion of the assemblage of the syringe to theholderapplicator, the guard 76 of the needle can be removed.

1 With the parts in the positions indicated in FIG. 1 and with the guard76 removed it is now only necessary, in order to use the syringe, tograsp the housing 10 (namely the main body portion 12, 30 thereof) andapply pressure to the switch button 34. This will energize the motor 14and cause a rapid turning movement of the syringe 54 and needle 74. Suchturning movement greatly facilitates the inserting of the needle in hasa unique and advantageous configuration comprising a slender, sharpconical tip portion 78 which is integral with a tubular body portion 80,the latter being provided with a plurality of discharge openings 82 inits side wall as seen in FIG. 3. The discharge openings 82 arepreferably located immediately behind the conical tip 78. Such a needleconstruction is in sharp contrast to the conventional hypodermic needlelike that designated 84 and shown in FIG. 6 wherein the point portionhas an opening 88 that reveals the end of, the needle bore 90. When thisconventional needle is applied to animal tissue as illustrated in FIG. 6it will not immediately penetrate the same but instead will cause adimple 92 to be formed due to the resistance'offered by, the skin. Thisis in sharp contrast to the piercing action which characterizes theimproved needle of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, when suchneedle is rapidly rotated as by the holder-applicator of FIG. 1.Referring to FIG. 3, the tip portion 94 of the needle will immediatelypierce the tissue with very little axial force being required, wherebythere is a noticeable absence of dimpling of the tissue such as thedir'nple92 illustrated in FIG. 6.

Accordingly it will now be seen from the foregoing that l have provideda novel and improved hypodermic needle construction, an an improvedvsyringeholderapplicator device whereby the syringe and needle arerapidly rotated, all to the end that a much quicker and easier insertionof the needle in animal tissue can be ef- I fected, without the dimplingor discomfort which characterizes the use of conventional hypodermicneedles such as that shown in FIG. 6. The improved holder is seen to beespecially simple, small, compact and lightweight in its construction,and is so arranged as to easily accommodate a usual type of syringeandhypodermic needle, by the mere process of pushing the syringe assemblageinto the bearing portion 56 of the holder with a forward motion, untilthe bearing collar 78 is seated in the bearing sleeve 58. Thereupon theguard 76 can be removed so that the device is ready for use in themanner above explained. After energization of the motor and spinning ofthe syringe to effect insertion of the needle, the motor is halted byreleasing pressure from the button 34, whereupon the plunger 68 can bemanipulated to effect the injection. The barrel portion 54 of thesyringe is clearly visible through the side openings between the ribs62, 66 whereby the extent or amount of injection of the fluid can beeasily'observed and controlled.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim: r 1. Means for facilitating the introduction of a hypodermicneedle into animal tissue, comprising in combination:

a. a carrier. device, I b. a hollow hypodermic needle havinga sharp,imperforate pointed and conical tip portion and having a side openingspaced back of said conical tip portion andconstituting a dischargeorifice, c. means for rotatably mounting said needle on said carrierdevice with the conical tip thereof disposed in a projecting position,

d. second mounting means on said carrier device, for applying a turning,driving force to said needle to effect a rapid turning thereof about itsaxis, thereby enabling a penetration of the needle into said animaltissue to be effected with a minimum of axial force and discomfort, and

e. a hypodermic syringe supported by said second mounting means andcarrying said needle,

f. said carrier comprising a casing having bearing means receiving andturnably supporting the syringe and the needle carried thereby,

g. powering means connected to said second mounting means to activatethe latter.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the powering means comprises an electric motor and a battery supplyfor energizing the same, and

b. gearing connected with said motor, to transfer force therefrom to theneedle.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

a. said gearing comprises a wormsecured to the motor shaft, andcomprises a set of cooperable spur gears one of which is connected tothe needle to turn the latter, and

b. a worm gear engaged with said worm and connected to drive the otherof said spur gears.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

a. the battery supply comprises a single dry-cell battery disposedalongside and closely juxtaposed to the electric motor,

b. said battery and motor having their axes substantially parallel,

c. said battery having a diameter on the order of approximately one-halfthe diameter of the motor,

d. a casing enclosing said motor and battery,

e. a pushbutton switch carried by the casing at that side of the motorwhich is opposite from the side adjacent to the battery, f. said casinghaving a large-diameter body portion surrounding the motor and having asmall-diameter body portion surroundingthe battery,

g. said small diameter portion of the casing being engageable with theusers hand between the thumb and forefinger thereof when the casing isheld in the manner of a pistol grip, with the middle finger arranged toactuate said electric switch.

5. A device as in claim I, wherein:

a. the second mounting means for applying a turning force to the needlecomprises a spur gear having a relatively large bore adapted to receivethe syringe body, and

b. an O-ring being carried in the bore of the spur gear.

6. Means for facilitating the introduction of a hypodermic needle intoanimal tissue, comprising in combination:

a. a carrier device,

b. a hollow hypodermic needle having a sharp, imperforate pointed andconical tip portion and'having a side opening spaced back of saidconical tip portion and constituting a discharge orifice,

0. means for rotatably mounting said needle on said carrier device withthe conical tip thereof disposed in a projecting position, and

d. powering means on said carrier device for applying a turning, drivingforce to said mounting means to effect a rapid turning of the needleabout its axis, thereby enabling a penetration of the needle into saidanimal tissue to be effected with a minimum of axial force anddiscomfort,

e. said mounting means comprising a syringe mounting the needle and anO-ring turnable in the carrier about an axis in alignment with the axisof the syringe,

f. said O-ring slidably receiving and frictionally gripping the barrelof the syringe to impart turning force thereto.

1. Means for facilitating the introduction of a hypodermic needle intoanimal tissue, comprising in combination: a. a carrier device, b. ahollow hypodermic needle having a sharp, imperforate pointed and conicaltip portion and having a side opening spaced back of said conical tipportion and constituting a discharge orifice, c. means for rotatablymounting said needle on said carrier device with the conical tip thereofdisposed in a projecting position, d. second mounting means on saidcarrier device, for applying a turning, driving force to said needle toeffect a rapid turning thereof about its axis, thereby enabling apenetration of the needle into said animal tissue to be effected with aminimum of axial force and discomfort, and e. a hypodermic syringesupported by said second mounting means and carrying said needle, f.said carrier comprising a casing having bearing means receiving andturnably supporting the syringe and the needle carried thereby, g.powering means connected to said second mounting mEans to activate thelatter.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the poweringmeans comprises an electric motor and a battery supply for energizingthe same, and b. gearing connected with said motor, to transfer forcetherefrom to the needle.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:a. said gearing comprises a worm secured to the motor shaft, andcomprises a set of cooperable spur gears one of which is connected tothe needle to turn the latter, and b. a worm gear engaged with said wormand connected to drive the other of said spur gears.
 4. A device as setforth in claim 2, wherein: a. the battery supply comprises a singledry-cell battery disposed alongside and closely juxtaposed to theelectric motor, b. said battery and motor having their axessubstantially parallel, c. said battery having a diameter on the orderof approximately one-half the diameter of the motor, d. a casingenclosing said motor and battery, e. a pushbutton switch carried by thecasing at that side of the motor which is opposite from the sideadjacent to the battery, f. said casing having a large-diameter bodyportion surrounding the motor and having a small-diameter body portionsurrounding the battery, g. said small diameter portion of the casingbeing engageable with the user''s hand between the thumb and forefingerthereof when the casing is held in the manner of a pistol grip, with themiddle finger arranged to actuate said electric switch.
 5. A device asin claim 1, wherein: a. the second mounting means for applying a turningforce to the needle comprises a spur gear having a relatively large boreadapted to receive the syringe body, and b. an O-ring being carried inthe bore of the spur gear.
 6. Means for facilitating the introduction ofa hypodermic needle into animal tissue, comprising in combination: a. acarrier device, b. a hollow hypodermic needle having a sharp,imperforate pointed and conical tip portion and having a side openingspaced back of said conical tip portion and constituting a dischargeorifice, c. means for rotatably mounting said needle on said carrierdevice with the conical tip thereof disposed in a projecting position,and d. powering means on said carrier device for applying a turning,driving force to said mounting means to effect a rapid turning of theneedle about its axis, thereby enabling a penetration of the needle intosaid animal tissue to be effected with a minimum of axial force anddiscomfort, e. said mounting means comprising a syringe mounting theneedle and an O-ring turnable in the carrier about an axis in alignmentwith the axis of the syringe, f. said O-ring slidably receiving andfrictionally gripping the barrel of the syringe to impart turning forcethereto.